Severance structure for manifolding stationery



June23, 1942. J. G. KERR I 2,287,431-

SEVERANCE" STRUCTURE FOR MANIFOLDING STATIONERY Filed Nov. 7, 1940 Patented June 23, 1942 1 s UNITED STATE SEVERANCE STRUCTURE FOR MANIFOLD- ING STATIONERY James Gordon Kerr,

to Gilman Fanfold Corporation, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Washington, D. 0., assignor l Niagara Falls,

Application November 7, 1940, Serial No. 364,685

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in manifolding stationery or record assemblies, and more particularly to an improved construction whereby record strips or record assemblies of the long continuous traveler type can be severed into individual record sheets.

It is a general object of the invention to provide for manifolding stationery of the class mentioned, an improved structure for weakening the manifolding strips so that they may be easily severed or torn along the weakened lines to form smooth, even severed edges, and to avoid roughness, projecting tufts along the severed edges, and like irregularities. v

A further object of the invention is to provide for manifolding stationery of the class mentioned, an improved severance structure for dividing the strips into sheets whereby the breaking or severance of the strip material occurs at points offset from the general course of the severance lines, thus avoiding roughness and irregularities at the severed edges. j

According to another feature of improvement of the invention, the weakened severance lines are constructed in an improved manner so as to assure the tearing of the strips along the lines and to minimize the tendency of the tearing to deviate or diverge from the weakened lines. In this manner mutilation and irregularities along the lines of severance are avoided in large degree.

Another feature of improvement resides in the weakening of the strips to form the severance lines in such a manner that the ties or uncut integral connecting strip portions have their connection with the strips at points adjacent to one side of the lines weaker than the corresponding attachments adjacent to the Opposite sides of the lines. In this manner the severance at the weaker parts of the ties is assured and irregularities and deviation from the lines of the tearing avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide in record assemblies or manifolding stationery of the class mentioned, improved weakened severance lines having ties of considerable amplitude 01 longitudinal extent, thus avoiding undue stresses in the strips with consequent objectionable bulging, wrinkling, etc., when a composite assembly of strips. either of the fanfold type of construction or separate interleaved record and carbon strips, is folded along the weakened lines into a zigzag supply pack. When thus constructed the ties are of sufficient extent or amplitude to enable the strips to separate slightly at the fold lines, thus providing flexibility substanscriptionof the copyrecord strips.

tially at the fold lines and avoiding the objections noted.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of certain illustrative but preferred embodiments of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

Fora more comprehensive disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which: e

Fig. l is a partially diagrammatic perspective view of a manifolding assembly of the fanfold type embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a detailed plan view of one of the assembly strips showing the manner of constructing one form of the improved severance line;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the severance line structure disclosed in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a different embodiment of the improved severance lines; and r Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed deillustrative embodiments of the invention there shown, and first to the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, amanifolding assembly I of the long continuous traveler type is shown embodying a plurality of relatively superposed record strips 8 of paper or similar material, in-

terleaved between which are long continuous strips 9 of transfer or carbon paper positioned for transferring the inscriptions made on the top or original record strip 8 to the interleaved lower or The manifolding stationery or record assembly I is herein shown as being of the fanfold type in which the superposed record strips 1 are formed from a single integral sheet of paper by providing longitudinal marginal folds It]. This is shown for illustrative purposes merely and it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to other forms of manifolding stationery including those in which the superposed record strips are separate from each other with the carbon strips interleaved therewith in transfer relation. The invention is applicable further- ,more to single strips intended to be used singly.

As shown, each of the manifolding strips 8 and 9 of the record assembly is provided with longitudinally spaced transverse weakened severance lines ll. These weakened severance lines are longitudinally spaced apart so as to provide the desired lengths of record sheets or form lengths when severance from the complete assembly is effected along these lines. Each of the form lengths is ordinarily provided with an appropriate blank form H3. The carbon strips 9 are disclosed as being coated only on their underside with carbon or transfer material l3 but both sides may be thus coated, if desired, and the coating may be arranged in any desired well known manner. The complete manifolding assembly is ordinarily reversely folded along transverse fold lines l4 into a zigzag supply pack l5 that is convenient for handling and loading into various forms of writing or manifolding machines. The blank forms may, of course, be headed in either direction relative to the pack l5, dependent on the machine in which the assembly is to be used. As shown, it is convenient to position the fold lines M directly upon the weakened severance lines H of the record and carbon strips, these severance lines ll being ordinarily arranged in the assembly in substantially depthwise alignment. There is a particular advantage, as disclosed more fully below, in folding the assembly directly upon the improved weakened severance lines II as embodied in this invention.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the weakened severance lines H, preferably both in the record and carbon strips, embodies a series of elongated weakened portions or sections IE longitudinally aligned with each other transversely of the assembly and spaced apart at adjacent ends.

While for some purposes these elongated weak ened sections it may be formed by any of the well known weakening means, such as perforating, scoring, etc., for the best results they are preferably formed by slitting or cutting the paper to form the elongated slits or cuts I6. These elongated slits or cuts preferably extend entirely through the paper, but for some purposes they may extend only part way through so as to weaken the paper sufiiciently to provide for severance or separation of the strip parts along the weakened lines. slits 15 are substantially aligned along the course of the severance lines H, and the length of each individual slit can vary somewhat for different qualities or weights of paper, and under other varying conditions. the slits quite long because they form the edges of the sheets after severance and it is desirable to have the severed edges as even and smooth as possible. Thus, when the slits 16 extend all the way through the paper and are of con-' siderable length, a severed edge closely approximating a smooth out edge is assured, thus adapting the severed sheets for filing purposes and the like, and avoiding rough and mutilated edges.

As shown, the individual slits 86 are spaced apart at their respective adjacent ends to form integral connecting sections or ties H. These ties or connections I! are preferably formed by making short cuts or incisions l8 disposed transversely of the courses of the weakened severance lines II and to the elongated slits it, which may be regarded as defining the general course of the severance lines 9 I. As best shown in Fig. 3, these short transverse incisions 18 preferably merge with or cut the respective slits or cuts H.

As shown, the elongated But it is desirable to make Also, the incisions l8 preferably extend all the way through the paper but for some purposes they may extend only part Way through the paper leaving a very small portion of the original material so that severance along these incisions is very readily effected as, for example, by a tearing operation by pulling the strip apart along the weakened line. Also, it will be noticed that the short cuts or incisions H! are arranged in pairs in converging relation at one side or just oiT the course of the elongated cuts I6. This converging relation of the incisions l8 provides V-shaped or tapered tie ll, the narrow ends of which are offset or positioned slightly at one side of the general course of the elongated slits II. It will thus be seen that each tie I1 is connected at its opposite ends to the strip material, the narrow ends of the ties having less material than the wider ends and thus being weaker. Accordingly, when severance occurs by tearing or pulling the strip apart along the line, the severance will occur at the narrow or Weaker ends of the ties. Also, it will be noticed that the short transverse cuts or incisions I8 are arranged to form depressions or recesses in the edge of the severed strip and at one side of each severance lines. Such depressions are indicated at I9 in Fig. 2. The narrow or weaker ends of the ties l1 and the attachments thereof to the strip material are positioned respectively within the depressions l9.

When severance occurs along the weakened severance lines as by tearing or pulling the strips apart along such lines, either in a complete assembly, such as shown in Fig. 1, or in a single strip, the breaking or severance will occur at the narrow or weaker end portions of the ties H. The breaking or rupture of the strip material will therefore actually occur within the respective depressions l9 and at points ofiset longitudinally of the strips from the general course of the elongated cuts ll. Therefore, any tufts or fraying at the point of rupture, due to the fibrous character of the paper, will be positioned wholly below or at one side of the severed edge 20 as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus the elongated slits or cuts l6 will define the straight edge 20 of the severed strip and the portions ruptured by the tearing operation will be positioned at one side within the depressions l9. In this manner the severed edge 20 of the strip approaches a clean cut straight edge and it is substantially free from tufts and similar irregularities. Also, due to the arrangement of the elongated cuts II and the tapered ties l1 severance during the tearing operation is caused to follow along the weakened severance line and there is very little, if any, tendency for the severance to deviate or diverge from the severance lines. Mutilated or ragged severed edges are thus substantially eliminated.

There is also another advantage due to the improved severance lines, as above described, when utilized in composite record assemblies embodying a plurality of relatively superposed manifolding strips. Thus, it will be noticed that the ties I 1 have considerable amplitude or longitudinal extent transversely of the course of the respective weakened lines. When the folding occurs, as on the fold lines M of Fig. 1, these elongated ties permit the strips to separate slightly with protruding or outwardly displaced edges along the elongated cuts H5 at the fold lines. In this manner undue stresses at the fold lines with consequent wrinkling and creasing is very materially reduced and the form lengths will lie fiat and close together in the zigzag pack. This not only makes a more compact supply pack but the character of the transfer inscriptions is improved because the wrinkling, creasing, bulging, etc., of the paper is reduced. Also permanent creasin or bulging is avoided, such as would interfere with feeding of the assembly by cylindrical platens or other feeding means.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 the weakened severance lines I l are arranged in substantially the same manner in the strips and in the complete assembly as described above in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this embodiment the elongated slits or cuts l6a are constructed and arranged substantially in the same manner in the strips and in the assembly as those above described. The short transverse cuts or incisions |8a correspond to the incisions [8 above described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and they are similarly formed by slitting the paper and similarly arranged in pairs in converging relation and they also merge with or cut the respective elongated slits [6a. But the incisions l8a at their divergent end portions extend'beyond the adjacent cuts lBa as clearly seen in Fig. 5. This construction provides tapered ties I'Ia similar to the ties I1 above described, but the ties Ila extend at their wide end portions beyond the line of the elongated slits l6a. By this means, ties of greater length or amplitude can be provided which are advantageous in some structures, especially those where a large number of interleaved strips are employed. The narrow or weaker ends of the ties I! are positioned respectively in the depressions or recesses [9a that are similar to the depressions l9 above described. It will thus be seen that the structure of the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 has the functional advantages above described in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and for some structures it is preferred. When severance is made along the line of the slits IBa, the rupture or severance of the strip occurs within the depressions l9a at the weaker end attachments of the ties and at points offset from the line or course of the slits lBa, thus leaving a clean straight severed edge a.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having describe-d my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a manifolding assembly, in combination, a plurality of continuous interleaved manifolding strips havin longitudinally spaced transverse weakened severance lines along which the assembly may be severed into leaf lengths, each said severance line including spaced elongated cuts extending through the strip and aligned along the line, and ties extending transversely of each said severance line and positioned between respective adjacent said cuts and having opposing strip attachments of different strength, said strip attachments of each tie being spaced apart longitudinally of the assembly to cause said ties to be elongated longitudinally of the assembly to facilitate assembly folding, said opposing strip attachments of each said tie being offset in opposite directions from the course of the said cuts of each said severance line, said assembly being folded along said severance lines into a zigzag pack.

2. A record strip having a weakened severance line including elongated longitudinally spaced slits in the strip extending along the length of the severance line, and ties positioned between respectively adjacent said slits and extending transversely of the course of the severance line to points spaced therefrom at the opposite sides thereof, each said tie having opposite attachments with the strip of different strength, said opposite tie attachments being offset from the course of the severance line at each of the opposite sides thereof.

3. A manifolding strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse weakened severance lines, each said severance line having elongated cuts in the strip spaced apart and extending along the length thereof, each said severance line including cuts extending transversely thereof between respectively adjacent said weakened strip portions, said transversely extending cuts extending to points spaced from the respective severance lines at each of the opposite sides thereof to form elongated ties having connections at opposed parts thereof to the strip at points offset transversely from the course of the respective severance lines at each of the opposite sides thereof, said tie connections at one side of each said severance line being respectively weaker than those at the other side thereof.

4. In a manifolding assembly, in combination, a. plurality of continuous interleaved manifolding strips having longitudinally spaced transverse weakened severance lines along which the assembly may be severed into leaf lengths, each said severance line including spaced elongated cuts extending through the strip and aligned along the line, and ties extending transversely of each said severance line and respectively formed by cuts extending transversely of the severance lines, said ties being positioned between respective adjacent said cuts and having opposing strip attachments of different strength, said strip attachments of each tie being spaced apart longitudinally of the assembly to cause said ties to be elongated longitudinally of the assembly to facilitate assembly folding, the weaker of each of said strip attachments being offset from the course of the said cuts of each severance line, each of said elongated ties extending to points spaced both forwardly and rearwardly of the courses of the respective transverse severance lines, said assembly bein folded along said severance lines into a zigzag pack.

JAMES GORDON KERR. 

